Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-01-07
w. ,SASSON'S VALET

While the moaning blast goes by,
Sleeps my darling peacefully
C. l. PriRgle in ChdHibcrs's JOuigtoi
W. ,SASSON'S VALET
In 1868 NJ Paul Sasson resided on the
Boulevard de Neuilly, Paris He was a
Spectator and iinancier and about 80 years
Of age. He was married and had daugh-
ter Corinne and a son Charles He kept
up an expensive establishment and was re
puted rich. Early in the year named he
became reserved and morose and was con
stantly talking to his family about their ex-
travagance and the necessity Of reducing
expenses At length he became almost vio-
lent in his conduct toward his family and
the greatest forbearance had to be exercis-
ed by them.
October u NJ Season went to the city
early. About noon he returned with "A van.
and set several men to work removing the
pictures from the parors. lie was very
stern, and took no notice Of his family. who
did not cXpostulate. He returned to the
city and was not at home until late The
next morning at breakfast he informed his
family that he was about to cuttail his es-
Enlistment and 10 that end had resolved
to move into smaller and less pretentious
dwelling
Have you suffered such heavy losses as
to render this necessary = his wife asker.
1T is very inopportune just at this june
ture, when Corinne expects soon to receive
proposal of marriage
Let her marry whom she pleases." he
replied roughly she viii soon bring him
to poverty with her extravaganza.
She is sought by a worthy gentleman. "
. L.. a.
every way desirable"
1T is proper for YOU not to interfere in
such matters, the father said "you will
have enough TO do to attend to your own
cares in life. You have already failed in
two examinations at college. and have
shown Yourself incompetent for anything "
II am competent, the son replied with
warmth, ITO protect my mother and sister 90
'lnsolent =" exclaimed his father and
rushing toward him he clcnched his fist as
though 30 strike him
Nine. Sasson interposed her person be
tween the irate man and his son " Sas-
son ground his teeth with rage. and then
struck his wife violent blow over the side
Of the head. The son was ready tn grapple
with his father, but his mother entreated
him to forbear Soon after " Sasson quit
ted the house.
After a brief consultation Nine. Sasson
resolved Ia seek refuge with her sister, and
her children agreed to accompany her
Trunks were hastily packed and prepare
ton made for immediate departure. While
her children were engaged in the work
Nine. Sasson went IA a bureau where her
husband kept a revolver.
III he should return and see Us preparing
for departure he might do something dcs-
perate. she said to herself
She took the pistol from the drawer. and
holding it among the folds of her dress went
to her apartments. As she quilted the IL
brary she found NJ. Seasons valet at the
door He turned aside and made no re
mark, and she passed on in silence. On
reaching the apartments occupied BY her
self and her husband she found her children
busy packing. She placed the revolver be
hind n vase on the mantclpiece without he
ing observed
When NJ Sasson returned home in the
evening he found the house deserted The
valet told him that his wife and children
had departed together having first packed
several trunks. which they had taken with
them
Il saw madame going 70 your bureau in
the library" the valet said at the conclu-
sion of his story.
NJ. Sasson went 10 the library and ex-
amined the bureau.
MY revolver has been removed, he said
II saw madame quit the library" the
valet said, holding by her side something
which was concealed by the drapery."
In the evening Mime Sasson discovered
that she had left large sum of money in
her boudoir. She had immediate need of
this sum, and how to get it was the subject
Of much thought She determined to say
nothing Of it to her children for fear
Charles would insist upon going to their
former residence for it, and thus, perhaps
be- brought into collision 18th his father Fl
nally she devised a schei4e She had the
keys of the side entrance from the garden
to the house. She thought that in the dark
ness she could easily find admission to the
dwelling house, reach unperceived the bou-
doir, procure the money and return with
out any ones being the wiser for her adven-
ture. To get her children out of the way
she suggested that they should visit her
brother, who resided mile away, and COM
municate to him the step she had taken. As
soon as they were gone she quilted her sis
ter's house unknown by any one but her
maid, whom she had taken with her, and,
procuring cab, went to within hundred
yards of her former residence i'll the Boule-
ward de Neuilly Directing the driver TO
wait for her return she went toward the
dwelling, opening the gate into the garden
with caution she left it alar and crossed
the lawn TO a side door. This she also left
aiar, being afraid that the closing of it
might rouse the inmates. Without difficulty
or molestation she assembled the stairs and
succeeded in getting possession of the mon
ey. She quilted the house, still leaving the
side door ajar, but ON passing out Of the
garden She closed the gate and hastily walk
ed toward the cab. She reached her sis
ter's house before her children returned
and without her absence having been motto
ed.
The next morning NJ. Sasson failed to call
for his valet usual. After waiting for
some time according to the Wallets state
ment, he went to his masters apartment
and found him lying in bed with "A bullet
hole in his head. On the coverlet lay his
revolver. His watch and purse were miss
ing. His wardrobe had been ransacked
and his escritoire broken open. There was
no doubt that the assassin had been at work
The judge of instruction and his officers
investigated the case and arrived at the
conclusion that murder and robbery had
been done.
The valet told what he knew about the
family troubles, and the fact Of Nine Sas-
son and her children having left their home
the previous day on account of what had
passed between monsieur and his wife and
son Then the valet related the incident
of the revolver.
But how had any one entered the house :
Jean Chauban. the valet, testified that early
in the morning. as he was taking the milk
at the garden floor, he observed that the
side door of the house was ajar, and going
in that way closed it after him The gar
den wall was high, but an expert climber
could easily scale it ON either side.
The gendarmes ON duty near by testified
that between 10 and II O'Clock the previous
night he saw cab standing within a few
hundred feet of the house. He spoke with
the driver, who said -
Some gay old bachelor must live near
by, for a very comedy woman has just dis
appeared by the side of that house,
The cabman was easily found by the po-
lice. Did he know the lady No. Where
did he take her up On the rner of Rue de
Morny and the Faubourg St. more, Nine,
Seasons sister resided ON the h, de Morny,
near Rue de Ponthieu 1t was conclusion
painful to reach, but there was no avoiding
it-Mme. Sasson had assassinated her hus-
band and the missing articles were taken
merely TO turn aside suspicion. She had
lived unhappily with him he had deter
mined to reduce his establishment; he had
4